The nation was thrown into mourning yesterday when news filtered in that Nigeria’s foremost constitutional lawyer and erstwhile Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, Prof Benjamin Obi Nwabueze (Ben Nwabueze) SAN, had joined his ancestors.

The spokesperson for the family, Eni Nwabueze, in a statement on Monday, confirmed that he died on Sunday evening in his home.

A passionate writer, Nwabueze authored over 30 books and treatises with an average extent of 400 pages.

Prof. Ben Nwabueze was a strong advocate for the Igbo cause and alongside other prominent Igbo sons like Akanu Ibiam, M.I. Okpara, K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief Ugochukwu, P.N. Okigbo and Udoji, co-founded Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 1976. He served as Secretary – General, between 1978 to 2004, in which capacity he transformed the body into a formidable, highly respected non-partisan Pan Igbo pressure group.

He is a recipient of several Chieftaincy titles, and The Nigerian Order of Merit (NNOM).

Prof. Nwabueze was an academic giant, who through his numerous books and articles contributed towards the application of constitutional law and the broader process of governance in Nigeria.

His death on Sunday, evening in his home has continued to generate reactions.

The Igbo intelligentsia, Aka Ikenga and the Cultural Credibility Development Initiative (CCDI), have condoled the family of Prof Benjamin Obi Nwabueze, Nigeria, the legal profession and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on the death of the foremost constitutional lawyer and erstwhile Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide.

President of Aka Ikenga, Chike Madueke, and President CCDI,  Ide Goddy Uwazurike, in separate personal tributes described Nwabueze as a good man.

The Aka Ikenga president noted that Ndigbo and Nigeria have lost an intellectual asset.

He said, Nwabueze “was a good man and Ndigbo and Nigeria has lost an intellectual asset. May his soul Rest In Peace.”

On his part, Uwazurike described Nwabueze’s death as a huge loss to the legal profession, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Nigeria.

He stated that Nwabueze is “a great man by all ramifications” and noted that he would be “greatly missed.”

He wrote, “It is with sadness that Credibility Group has learnt of the death of the great man, Prof Ben Nwabueze SAN. Yes , a great man by all ramifications. He was called the Oracle of Law by the great Rotimi Williams SAN of immortal memory.

“Prof Ben Nwabueze was a consummate lawyer, a professor of law who insisted on doing a written examination for his LLD, a mentor of many, the first academic to be conferred  with the Prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a Secretary General  of Ohanaeze, a Minister (Secretary) of Education in Nigeria , a professor of law in a good number of countries.

“It is also worth mentioning that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has lost three eminent chieftains recently. They include Prof Joe Irukwu SAN, Chief George Uwechue, SAN

and now Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN. Their memory will last forever.”

Born in on December 22, 1931, in Atani, Anambra State, Nwabueze is fondly called Professor of Professors on account of his numerous contributions to the legal profession in Nigeria and beyond.

Nwabueze drafted the unification decree of May, 1966 promulgated by Maj Gen Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi that abolished Nigeria’s regional structure.

A Teacher, Administrator, Businessman and former Minister of Education and Youth Development, Nwabueze started his academic pursuit at the CMS Central School Atani, from 1938 – 1945; C.M.S Central School, Onitsha (formerly, African College), 1947 – 1950. He later went to London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, 1956 – 1961 and School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1961 – 1962.

From 1962 – 1965, he was Senior Lecturer at Holborn College of Law, London, and Senior Lecturer, University of Nigeria Nsukka, between 1967 – 1970. In 1971, he was Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Zambia and Director, Law practice Institute, Zambia, 1973 – 1975

He earned his Doctor of Laws (LL.D) at the University of London in 1978, based on his three outstanding books – Constitutionalism, Presidentialism, and Judicialism, thus entering the record books as the second (since the death of Dr. T.O. Elias), the only Nigerian and African holder of a higher doctorate degree in Law by published works.

Nwabueze was the first academic lawyer to attain the prestigious rank of a Silk －Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1978 strictly on the basis of his published works.

A seasoned Academician, he was member of Senate of the Universities of Lagos, Dar-es-salaam, Nairobi, Haile Selassie in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland between 1971 – 1978.

He was appointed the University Assessor for Academic Appointments, Universities of Ghana, Lagos, Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and Jos between 1978 – 1979.